Tennessee football, Robert Gillespie — last of Butch Jones' assistants — part ways

The lone coach Jeremy Pruitt opted to keep at Tennessee from the previous football staff is no longer at the university.

Running backs coach Robert Gillespie, who worked on Butch Jones' staff at Tennessee, and the program parted ways Tuesday, a source confirmed with USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

Tennessee running backs coach Robert Gillespie drills with Vols running back John Kelly (4) during ...more

Tennessee running backs coach Robert Gillespie drills with Vols running back John Kelly (4) during Tennessee -preseason football practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 24, 2017.

Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

UT has made no official announcement.

The Tennessee coaching staff spent two days last week touring the state as part of a post-signing day celebration.

Gillespie received $515,000 annually. According to his contract, Gillespie would owe UT $50,000 if it was his decision to leave. Otherwise, UT would be required to pay him the salary remaining on his contract.

Gillespie arrived at Tennessee in 2013, taking the role of running backs coach. In 2015, he added the role of recruiting coordinator. When Pruitt took over the program in December and put a staff together, Gillespie was the only member of Jones' staff that the new Vols coach kept.

Gillespie coached a pair of 1,000-yard rushers — Jalen Hurd and Rajion Neal — during his tenure at Tennessee. He also coached NFL rookie of the year Alvin Kamara, who took off last season with the Saints.

Gillespie, who starred at Florida, made coaching stops at West Virginia, Oklahoma State and South Carolina.